Conveyor cleaner with elastomer spring

ABSTRACT

An improved mount for a conveyor cleaner arm featuring a split tube about a torsionally elastic torus and wherein the arm is rigidly secured to the tube, as by welding, across the split or gap so as to fix the gap dimensionally whereby the gap provides a keyway to receive a key on the exterior of the torus.

0 Umted States Patent 1151 3,674,13 1 Matson July 4, 1972 1541 CONVEYOR CLEANER WITH 2,769,631 11/1956 Pierce ..267/57.1 A ELASTOMER NG 2,409,500 10/1946 Krotz ..267/57.1 A 3,545,737 12/1970 Lamprey ..267/57.l A [72] Inventor: Carl G. Maison, 401 E. Central Blvd.,

Kewanee, 111. 61443 Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Hadd S. Lane [22] Flled' 1971 Att0meyHaro]d M. Knoth [21] Appl. No.: 108,936

[57] ABSTRACT [52] 0.8. Cl. ..l98/230, 267/571 A An pr v mount f r a conveyor cleaner arm featuring a [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 45/00 pli tu about a torsion lly elastic torus and wherein the arm [58] Field of Search ..l98/229, 230; 267/571 R, 152, is g y Secured to the tube, as y g, across the pli or 267/511 A; 29/1495 NM gap so as to fix the gap dimensionally whereby the gap provides a keyway to receive a key on the exterior of the torus. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 2,393,724 1/1946 Vickers ..198/230 PKTE N TEDJUL 4 I972 INVENTOR. C. G. MATSON FIG. 7

FIG. 6

CONVEYOR CLEANER WITH ELASTOMER SPRING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A typical conveyor cleaner for handling particulate material is an endless belt trained about a pair of rollers. Because of the tendency of the belt to accumulate adhering material, it is commonplace to provide spring-pressed scraper blades to remove this material. The conventional way of mounting the blades is to support them on arms, one for each blade, and to bias the arms into engagement with the belt by metallic coil springs. A representative prior US. Pat. is that to C. G. Matson, No. 3504786, and consider also the art cited in that patent. All of these use coil springs in one fon'n or another and means are provided for adjusting the spring load. These prior structures are generally satisfactory, but it has been found that they leave room for improvement in the areas of manufacture, economy, ease of assembly and disassembly, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention simplifies the mounting of individual scrapers as well as improving the overall arrangement of a multi-blade assembly. In one preferred embodiment, each scraper arm includes a sleeve-like part which embraces an elastomer, torsionally elastic torus that is mountable on a support and constrained or biased against turning about the axis of the torus so that the scraper am has a bias load thereon. Various features are developed in the arrangement of the relationship between the toms and the arm and the torus and the shaft or rod-like member on which the arms are mounted. For example, the elastomer torus has an interior sleeve-like core that is receivable of a rod-like member and the two are keyed together, as by being formed of complementary non-circular section. The torus is substantially surrounded by an exterior sleeve-like metallic portion which receives a tubular part rigid with the scraper arm, and these two are likewise keyed together. In particular, the tubular part is in the form of a substantially closed C" in which the proximate edges of the part provide a narrow gap that serves as a keyway for receiving a key on the outer metallic part of the torus. The arm is rigidly afiixed, as by welding, to the tubular part in spanning relation to the gap so as to fix the dimension of the gap. The keyway relationship enables the parts to be axially assembled and disassembled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan of the cleaner assembly.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a modified form of structure.

FIG. 7 is an end view, partly in section, of the structure of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTIONS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As will be clear from the above-mentioned Matson patent, the cleaner structure is mounted transversely of the length of an endless belt, preferably at one end thereof and beneath the return run. Basically, the cleaner is mounted on support means including a transverse support 10 rigid with the main conveyor structure. A plurality of arms 12 radiate from the axis of the support and are generally parallel, and each arm carries a scraper blade 14. The improvement wrought by the present invention lies in the means for mounting the arms 12 on the support 10.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, the support 10 is of noncircular section, here square, and receives a plurality of metallic brackets 16, each of which includes a lower portion 18 of square section to fit the support 10 and an upper portion 20 of circular section. These shapes are provided for convenience, it being clear that other shapes could be used. The upper portion 20 is in the form of a substantially closed C," providing a gap 22, and the gap-bordering edges of the portion 20 are rigidly affixed to the lower portion 18 as by welding at 24. This means of affixation fixes the dimension of the gap or slot 22.

As elastomer bushing or torus 26, that is torsionally as well as otherwise elastic, fits within the portion 20 and is affixed thereto so that the exterior of the torus is constrained against rotation relative to the portion 20, and the interior of the torus is afiixed similarly to a rod-like member 28. This member is of non-circular section, here in the form of a hex," and the torus 26 has an interior liner or sleeve-like part 30 which is metallic and correspondingly of hex shape to fix the member 28. This part 30 is conventionally adhered or bonded to the interior elastomer portion of the torus.

The toms also includes an outer shell or sleeveJike portion 32, which, in this particular case, is made up of a pair of substantially semicircular halves of metal, one of which has a key 34 to fit the gap or keyway 22 of the part 20. Because the shell 32 is bonded to the exterior of the torus, the arrangement just described interposes the element 26 between the member 28 and bracket 16 so that rotation of the member 28 relative to the bracket 26 is torsionally resisted by the elastomer element. It will be seen that the key-keyway arrangement twenty-two thirty-fourths enables the parts to be axially assembled and disassembled.

Each arm 12 is preferably in the form of an ordinary bolt, threaded at one end at 36 so as to receive a blade 14 locked in place between a pair of nuts 38. The bolt is headed at 40 at its other end to provide an enlargement which is welded or otherwise rigidly attached at 42 to a sleeve-like portion or tubular part 44. This part, like that at 20, is substantially a closed C" having its proximate edges providing a gap or keyway 46. The head 40 bridges the gap and, by the welds 42, fixes the dimension of the gap. An elastomer element 48 is interposed between the part 44 and the member 28, and this element may be identical to the elements 26, having an internal hex" liner 50 and an outer shell 52, the latter having a key 54 fitting the keyway 46. The member 28 may be confined at opposite ends by cotters 56 and the brackets 16 may be likewise confined by cotters 58.

Considering the assembly described thus far, it will be seen that the rod-like member 28 is mounted by the elastomer means 26 so that twisting, deflection, etc. of the member relative to the support means 10 is elastically resisted by the elastomer elements. In cooperative fashion, the elements 48 between the member 28 and arms 12 resist deflection of the arms relative to the member, the elements 26 and 48 combining to provide a double function effect between the blades 14 and support means 10. As in the case of the relationship between the brackets 16 and the member 28, the anns 12 and member 28 are capable of axial assembly and disassembly, facilitating production and maintenance.

In that form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the arms 12 may be individually mounted on a support 60 without the intervention of the member 28, as by means of brackets 62 including upper and lower semicircular halves 64 and 66 secured together by bolt and nut means 68 to tightly embrace the support 60. The upper half 64 includes integral apertured ears 70 through which a bolt 72 passes to receive a nut 74. At opposite ends of the element 48, washers 76 are received by the bolt 72 and these are interposed respectively between the ears 70 and the element 48, and each washer has an integral hex projection 78 to fit the hex liner 50, whereby, in conjunction with frictional forces incurred by tightening the nut 74, to secure the liner against rotation relative to the brackets 62.

The advantages of the invention lie primarily in the ability to utilize commonly available parts, such as standard tubing (20, 44), elastomer elements (26, 48), bolts for the arms 12, welding of the bolt heads 40 to the parts 20 or 44, the automatic keyways at 22 and 46, axial assembly and disassembly, hex shapes, giving a plurality of angular positions, and overall economy and simplicity.

I claim:

1. A mount for a conveyor cleaner of the type including support means carrying a rod-like member thereon so as to resist rotation of the member relative to the support means about the length-wise axis of the member, an elastomer element in the form of a torus through which the member passes and to the interior of which the member is secured, a substantially tubular part embracing and secured to the exterior of the torus, and a scraper arm secured to the part and disposed generally as a radius from the member axis, the toms being torsionally elastic about the member axis to resist angular movement of the arm about the member axis, characterized in that the tubular part is in the form of a substantially closed C" providing a gap parallel to the member axis and forming a keyway, key means is provided on the exterior of the torus and is received in the keyway, and the arm is rigidly secured to the tubular part in spanning relation to the gap so as to prevent dimensional changes in the gap.

2. The mount defined in claim 1, in which the arm has an enlargement thereon adjacent to and spanning the gap and secured to said part.

3. The mount defined in claim 1, in which the means mounting the member on the support means includes a second elastomer element interposed between and secured to the member and to the support means and torsionally elastic about said member axis so as to resist movement of the member relative to the support means.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the interior of the torus includes and is bonded to an inner metallic sleeve, the sleeve is constrained against rotation relative to the member, the exterior of the torus includes and is bonded to an outer metallic sleeve-like portion including a projection providing said key means constrained against rotation relative to the tubular part.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, in which the inner sleeve and member are of complementary non-circular section.

6. For a conveyor cleaner, an elongated scraper arm having opposite ends, a substantially tubular part secured to one end of the arm so that the arm is substantially a radius from the axis of said part, and an elastomer torsionally elastic torus concentrically received within and secured at its exterior to the interior of said part, characterized in that the exterior of the torus is substantially embraced by and bonded to an outer metallic sleeve-like portion relatively tightly axially received within said part, said part is in the form of a substantially closed C providing a gap parallel to the axis of the part and opening toward said one end of the arm and said one end of the arm spans said gap and is rigidly secured to gap-bordering portions of said part so as to prevent dimensional changes in said gap, and the outer sleeve-like portion has a key fitting said gap.

7. The invention defined in claim 6, in which said one end of the arm has an enlargement thereon spanning said gap and secured to said gap-bordering portions.

8. The invention defined in claim 1, in which said arm is in the form of a bolt and said enlargement is the head of said bolt. 

1. A mount for a conveyor cleaner of the type including support means carrying a rod-like member thereon so as to resist rotation of the member relative to the support means about the length-wise axis of the member, an elastomer element in the form of a torus through which the member passes and to the interior of which the member is secured, a substantially tubular part embracing and secured to the exterior of the torus, and a scraper arm secured to the part and disposed generally as a radius from the member axis, the torus being torsionally elastic about the member axis to resist angular movement of the arm about the member axis, characterized in that the tubular part is in the form of a substantially closed ''''C'''' providing a gap parallel to the member axis and forming a keyway, key means is provided on the exterior of the torus and is received in the keyway, and the arm is rigidly secured to the tubular part in spanning relation to the gap so as to prevent dimensional changes in the gap.
 2. The mount defined in claim 1, in which the arm has an enlargement thereon adjacent to and spanning the gap and secured to said part.
 3. The mount defined in claim 1, in which the means mounting the member on the support means includes a second elastomer element interposed between and secured to the member and to the support means and torsionally elastic about said member axis so as to resist movement of the member relative to the support means.
 4. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the interior of the torus includes and is bonded to an inner metallic sleeve, the sleeve is constrained against rotation relative to the member, the exterior of the torus includes and is bonded to an outer metallic sleeve-like portion including a projection providing said key means constrained against rotation relative to the tubular part.
 5. The invention defined in claim 4, in which the inner sleeve and member are of complementary non-circular section.
 6. For a conveyor cleaner, an elongated scraper arm having opposite ends, a substantially tubular part secured to one end of the arm so that the arm is substantially a radius from the axis of said part, and an elastomer torsionally elastic torus concentrically received within and secured at its exterior to the interior of said part, characterized in that the exterior of the torus is substantially embraced by and bonded to an outer metallic sleeve-like portion relatively tightly axially received within said part, said part is in the form of a substantially closed ''''C'''' providing a gap parallel to the axis of the part and opening toward said one end of the arm and said one end of the arm spans said gap and is rigidly secured to gap-bordering portions of said part so as to prevent dimensional changes in said gap, and the outer sleeve-like portion has a key fitting said gap.
 7. The invention defined in claim 6, in which said one end of the arm has an enlargement thereon spanning said gap and secured to said gap-bordering portions.
 8. The invention defined in claim 1, in which said arm is in the form of a bolt and said enlargement is the head of said bolt. 